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Considering Canada?

Immigrating to Canada and becoming a licensed, practising physiotherapist can be a challenging process. CAPR has developed a series of resources to help you better understand the regulatory and working environment. Read More

About the Credentialling Process

For internationally-educated physiotherapists, credentialling is the process of evaluating documentary evidence to determine if your qualifications are not substantially different from Canadian entry-to-practice standards. This section provides detailed information on the process, timing and costs associated with credentialling. Read More

Taking the Exam

To become a licensed physiotherapist in Canada (except for Quebec) you must successfully complete the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE) before you are eligible to obtain an independent licence to practise in Canada. Click here to learn more about the format of the PCE, as well as the associated costs and typical overall timeline. Read More

Licensure

“Physiotherapy”, also known as “physical therapy” is a regulated profession in Canada. That means by law, you are required to be licenced to practise. The responsibility for licensing physiotherapists is held by provincial and territorial Regulatory Colleges. Read More

About the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators

The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) is a credentialling and assessment agency that provides evaluation services on behalf of our Members – the Canadian provincial and territorial physiotherapy regulators (called Colleges). Read More

Exam Registration Guide

This guide contains the registration and application procedures governing the Physiotherapy[1] Competency Examination (PCE). The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) reserves the right to change policies and procedures without prior notice.

For additional PCE information, refer to the latest version of the PCE Exam Policy available at www.alliancept.or

Exam Dates

2018 Exam Dates

Written Component(Qualifying Exam)

Clinical Component(Physiotherapy National Exam)

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Monday, November 26, 2018

Sunday, November 18, 2018

2019 Exam Dates

Written Component(Qualifying Exam)

Clinical Component(Physiotherapy National Exam)

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Monday, May 6, 2019

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Monday, November 18, 2019

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Eligibility for the Clinical Component

Exam Components

Candidates who successfully complete
the Written Component in:

Are eligible to take the Clinical Component in:

May 2018, July 2018, or September 2018

November 2018, June 2019 or November 2019

November 2018 or March 2019

June 2019 or November 2019

May 2019, July 2019 or September 2019

November 2019, June 2020 or November 2020

November 2019

June 2020 or November 2020

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Applicants must submit a signed and fully completed application form for each exam component, along with payment, by the stated application deadlines to:

All applications must be received in the CAPR office by the application deadline. *

Applications received after the application deadline* WILL NOT be accepted.

Applications for written and clinical exam components may be submitted at the same time. Whenever possible, CAPR encourages you to send both your Written and Clinical Component applications to our office at the same time.

You are responsible for making sure that the application form is complete.

CAPR does not accept photocopied, faxed or emailed applications.

The “Declaration of Identity Form” (DIF) must be sent with the first application if CAPR does not already have it on file. The DIF is valid for 5 years from the date it is notarized, unless your official name changes or your appearance changes drastically.

You may not register for more than one administration of each component at a time.

You must wait for your results to be released prior to re-applying for the same component.

You are encouraged to mail your application(s) via a trackable mailing service, for example, Registered Mail or Courier. This will allow you to track your personal package.

Important Dates for the Physiotherapy Competency Examination

Component

Exam Date

Application Deadline*

2018

Written Component

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Monday, July 16, 2018

Monday, November 26, 2018

Monday, September 24, 2018

Clinical Component

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Friday, March 2, 2018

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Friday, August 17, 2018

Important Dates for the Physiotherapy Competency Examination

Component

Exam Date

Application Deadline*

2019

Written Component

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Monday, January 14, 2019

Monday, May 6, 2019

Monday, March 4, 2019

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Monday, May 13, 2019

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Monday, July 15, 2019

Monday, November 18, 2019

Monday, September 16, 2019

Clinical Component

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Friday, March 1, 2019

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Friday, August 16, 2019

Exam Fees and Payment Information

Payment must be in Canadian funds for the full amount and must be submitted with the application. Payment can be by certified cheque, money order or credit card.

DEBIT CREDIT CARDS, CASH, AND PERSONAL CHEQUES ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

All payments must be made payable to “Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators.”

Exam Fees

Component

2018 Exam Fee

2019 Exam Fee

Written Component
(Qualifying Exam)

$972.00

$992.00

Clinical Component
(Physiotherapy National Exam)

$1,760.00

$1795.00

Total

$2,732.00

$2787.00

Payment by Credit Card

You can pay your fees by credit card. CAPR accepts the following major credit cards only – VISA and MasterCard. Please visit www.alliancept.org for information on paying by credit card. Complete the credit card section of the application form to authorize credit card payment.

Payment from Outside Canada

If you choose to pay by credit card (debit credit cards are not accepted) and are applying from outside of Canada, CAPR strongly recommends that you contact your credit card company to notify them of the pending charge. Companies are becoming more rigorous about their anti-fraud measures and some will reject a transaction from a foreign company if they are not aware of it ahead of time. As many credit card companies do not communicate the reason for rejecting transactions to us, this will result in you being charged an additional $75.00 fee for rejected payments.

Please note that CAPR is not able to guarantee a specific payment processing date or a payment processing date range. If your credit card company requires that information to authorize the transaction, we recommend that you choose one of the other acceptable methods of payment for your application.

International candidates who send their documents with a bank draft, the draft needs to be drawn on a Canadian Bank and must be security encrypted; otherwise the draft will be sent for manual collections which will take around 25 business days or more and will incur bank charges.

Invalid or Rejected Credit Cards:

If your credit card is invalid or rejected, we will consider your registration incomplete. We will send you an email to explain your payment options. As many credit card companies do not communicate the reason for rejecting transactions to us, this will result in you being charged an additional $75.00 fee for rejected payments.

You will not be eligible to register for the exam unless we receive payment by the date outlined on the notice we send to you.

Official Receipts

Official receipts for fees will be mailed to candidates with their exam results.

Rescheduling of Exam Date and/or Change of Exam Site

Written Component

Rescheduling within the same calendar year: STEP BY STEP

Complete the Written Component – Rescheduling Form, scan and email it to the Client Service Coordinator-Examinations (csc_exams@alliancept.org).

IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to ensure that you are eligible to reschedule the exam date. There will be a service fee every time you reschedule your exam date, therefore it is important to understand your eligibility. Requirements that may affect your eligibility are:

Internationally Educated Candidates (IEPTs), the date on your final credentialling letter to determine if you are eligible to reschedule.

If you are currently scheduled for a written component date that qualifies you for a specific clinical component date, you will have to reschedule your clinical component date accordingly.

You will NOT be eligible to reschedule your exam date until you have scheduled your original exam date through Prometric.

Rescheduling two days or less needs to be completed directly through CAPR first. Prometric will not accommodate this request directly.

Once you have submitted the form via email to CAPR, proceed directly to step two. There is no requirement to be approved before you reschedule on the Prometric website unless you have concerns about your eligibility.

You cannot change your exam date to an exam if the application deadline for that exam has passed.

Rescheduling within the same calendar year fees:

22 or more days prior to the exam date

3 to 21 days prior to the exam date

Less than 3 days prior to the exam date

Pay To:

Prometric

Prometric

CAPR

Reschedule (Date or Site)

$100.00

$150.00

$500.00

Rescheduling to the next calendar year:

Please submit the following original forms to the CAPR office:

Written Component –Rescheduling Form

Applicable application form for the relevant calendar year (do not complete the payment section).

Credit Card Authorization form for the outstanding balance of exam fees due to the fee increase (see Exam Fee above)and the re-scheduling fee will be required.

Note – You may combine both service fees into one payment on the credit card authorization form.

Once your are rescheduling into a subsequent year has been approved by CAPR, you will receive an updated confirmation of registration. This email will include your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a link to reschedule your exam through Prometric.

Rescheduling to the next calendar year fees:

22 or more days prior to the exam date

3 to 21 days prior to the exam date

Less than 3 days prior to the exam date

Pay To:

CAPR

CAPR

CAPR

Reschedule (Date or Site)

$100.00

$150.00

$500.00

How to withdraw from the Written Component:

To withdraw from the written component please notify the CAPR by emailing the Client Service Coordinator (CSC) at csc_exams@alliancept.org .

The withdraw request MUST be submitted to the CSC no later than 4:30pm EST on the last business day prior to the exam date to be eligible for a partial refund.

Withdraws received after 4:30pm EST will be considered a “No Show” on exam day and you will forfeit the entire exam fee.

Note: it will not count as one of your exam attempts.

A partial* refund will be issued to you within 10 to 15 business days of you withdrawing.

We do not accept a verbal withdraws.

See Processing Refunds** on page 10 for further information.

Withdrawal Fees for Written Component

PLEASE NOTE: Administrative Fees will be deducted from your original exam payment.

A new Registration Notice will be emailed to you once the rescheduling of your exam date is complete.

IMPORTANT:

You cannot change your exam date to an exam if the application deadline for that exam has passed.

Candidates must mail their date change form and service fee when paying by money order.

To provide our candidates with the most flexible transfer deadlines, forms and payments must be received in our office by the deadlines outlined in the chart below.

Site changes cannot be accommodated after the official application deadline date corresponding to the exam date you are registered in. Site change requests received after the official application deadline will be returned to the candidate.

Rescheduling to the next calendar year:

Please submit the following original forms to the CAPR office

Complete the Clinical Component –Rescheduling Form

Applicable application form for the relevant calendar year (do not complete the payment section).

Credit Card Authorization form for the outstanding balance of exam fees due to the fee increase and the re-scheduling fee will be required.

Note – You may combine both service fees into one payment on the credit card authorization form.

How to withdraw from the Clinical Component:

To withdraw from the clinical component please notify the CAPR by emailing the Client Service Coordinator (CSC) at csc_exams@alliancept.org .

The withdraw request MUST be submitted to the CSC no later than 4:30pm EST on the last business day prior to the exam date to be eligible for a partial refund.

Withdraws received after 4:30pm EST will be considered a “No Show” on exam day and you will forfeit the entire exam fee.

Note: it will not count as one of your exam attempts.

A partial* refund will be issued to you within 10 to 15 business days of you withdrawing.

We do not accept a verbal withdraws.

See Processing Refunds** on page 10 for further information.

Transfers or withdrawals from the Clinical Component are completed through CAPR. The associated time periods and fees are outlined below.

Clinical Component

Before Application Deadline

After application deadline/before 20 business days prior to the exam you are currently registered in

Within the 20 business days of the exam you are registered in

Site Change

(if change is possible)

$100

Site change not possible

Site change not possible

Date Change

(if change is possible)

$100

$500

$500

Withdrawal Fees

$300

$500

$500

**Processing Refunds: Refunds are generally made to the candidate’s credit card on file. If the credit card refund does not go through for any reasons (e.g., the credit card has expired, the card is cancelled, initial payment was processed more than six months ago, the name has changed, etc.) the refund is made to the candidate by cheque, mailed to the Canadian address on file. For international candidates the refund can be made only by Bank draft, there will be fees involved and can vary from bank to bank. The refund will be less the bank charges/ mailing cost.

Other Service Fees (non-refundable)

Re-scoring

$100.00

File Review

$125.00

Administrative Reconsideration

$300.00

Appeal

$300.00

Duplicate Results

$25.00

Duplicate Certificate

$25.00

Duplicate Receipt

$25.00

Invalid / Rejected Credit Card

$75.00

Exam Sites

Note – CAPR may not administer exams at all sites.

Written Component: Indicate on your application your site preferences from the list below.

Driving instructions will be provided in the confirmation email sent by Prometric.

Clinical Component

Exam sites are assigned based on the date that applications are received. Clinical Component site confirmations will be posted on www.alliancept.org

CAPR reserves the right to run additional sites without notice based on registration numbers.

Candidates are responsible for finding their own way to the correct site. We cannot guarantee that we will assign you to one of your preferred exam sites.

Candidates are strongly advised not to arrange travel and accommodation plans until their site assignment has been confirmed. CAPR is not responsible for any travel/ accommodation arrangements made by candidates.

Choice of Language

You can take the Physiotherapy Competency Examination in English or French. You must choose one option.

Written Component (Qualifying Exam)

The Written Component is a computer-based exam. This format allows candidates to view the alternate language version of their exam at any time during the exam, at any site.

Clinical Component (Physiotherapy National Exam)

You can take the Clinical Component in either English or French. The examiners and standardized clients will speak to you in the language you select on your application form. We will give you the written questions in both languages.

If you want to use French for any portion of the Clinical Component, you must take the Clinical Component at the Ottawa site. No other site offers the Clinical Component in French.

You must complete all clinical encounters in the language you choose on your application. For written questions, however, you can answer in either language at the Ottawa site only.

Change of Language

If you want to change the language in which you take the clinical component of the exam, you must notify CAPR in writing at least 60 calendar days before the exam date.

Registration Procedures

Confirmation of Registration

Written Component – You will receive confirmation of registration via email from CAPR. This email will include your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a link to where you can schedule your exam (choose your test centre) through Prometric.

Once you have scheduled your exam through Prometric, you will receive a confirmation email with the following information –

Exam date and time

What identification you must bring to the test centre

Canadian or foreign passport

Canadian driver’s licence

Canadian permanent resident card

When to arrive at the test centre

Driving directions to your chosen test centre

Clinical Component – You will receive confirmation of registration via email from CAPR. This email will also include your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Site assignments will be posted on the CAPR website.

Approximately four weeks before the exam, CAPR will email you a booking confirmation which includes registration information and important logistical details related to your confirmed site assignment. If you have not received the booking confirmation two weeks before the exam, please contact csc_exams@alliancept.org.

You must keep your PIN secure and confidential. You will need your PIN to view your clinical component site assignments and exam results online.

Exam Day Procedure

Written Component – Up to 4.5 hours in duration. Plan your attendance accordingly.

On exam day, report to the registration desk. You must bring one of the three forms of accepted identification; without it, you will not be granted access to the exam. Refer to Section 11 for the list of acceptable forms of identification.

Test centre staff will verify that you are a Written Component candidate by matching the information on your ID to the information provided by CAPR. Once verified, you will sign in, go through the security screening process, and then be escorted into the exam room to begin your exam. If you leave the exam room for any reason (for example, to go to the washroom), you must go through the security screening process again before being readmitted to the exam room.

IMPORTANT: Candidates arriving without valid government-issued ID (listed above) will not be granted access to the exam and, as such, will forfeit their exam fee.

IMPORTANT: Candidates arriving more than 30 minutes late will not be granted access to the exam, and will forfeit their exam fee.

On exam day, report to the registration desk by the designated reporting time.

You must bring the following identification; without it, you will not be granted access to your exam.

A printed copy of your booking confirmation email.

One of the following three valid government-issued photo ID with signature – driver’s licence, passport, or permanent resident card.

You must also bring the following required items:

Lab coat without a logo

Stethoscope

Do not bring the following non-permissible items:

Food or drink

Electronic devices – iPad, Kobo, cell phone

Digital or analog watch

Books and study materials

Change of Information

If you change your name or contact information (address, telephone number or email), send us notification in writing as soon as possible. For name changes, please provide copies of supporting official documentation. If you change your name or your appearance, you must send a new Declaration of Identity form.

Verification Request Form (VRF)

Some provincial and territorial regulators will give you a temporary, restricted or supervised licence to practise physiotherapy if you send them verification that you have registered for the exam. If you want us to verify to a regulator that you have registered for the exam, please complete the Verification Request Form. You can download the Verification Request Form from our website: www.alliancept.org

We can send verification as soon as your application payment has been processed.

Illness or Other Extraordinary Circumstances before Examination Day

Applicable to both the Written and Clinical Component

In order for candidates to optimize exam performance, candidates are stronglyencouraged not to attempt an examination and to make an appropriate withdrawal if, prior to the examination, they are ill or have extraordinary circumstances, including bereavement, that may affect their performance in the examination. The above noted withdrawal fee shall be applied.

Absence Due to Illness or Other Extraordinary Circumstances on Examination Day

If you do not attend the exam on exam day without arranging a withdrawal in advance, this is considered a “no show” and you will forfeit your entire exam fee. However, considerations for partial refunds will be made for severe illness or extraordinary circumstances.

If you are unable to attend an examination sitting due to a matter that arises suddenly on the day of the exam, you must immediately notify CAPR by email to csc_exams@alliancept.org.

In addition, to be considered for a partial refund, CAPR must receive your supporting documentation in writing within 7 calendar days after the date of the exam. If you meet these deadlines, we will review your situation and consider treating your case as a withdrawal. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

If absent from the examination due to illness, you must provide an original CAPR Candidate Medical Certificate (available on the CAPR website), verifying that you were examined at the time of the illness. The date of the certificate must be appropriate for, or match, the examination date (i.e., certificates dated more than two days after the November Clinical Exam or three days after the June Clinical Exam will not be accepted).

If absent from the examination due to bereavement, you must provide a copy of the death certificate, verifying that the bereavement was at the same time as the examination.

Unsuccessful Result in the Written Component (Qualifying Exam)

If you pre-register for the Clinical Component (Physiotherapy National Exam) but do not successfully complete the Written Component (Qualifying Exam), you can request to receive a full refund of the Clinical Component exam fee from CAPR.

Alternatively, you may have the option to transfer the Clinical Component exam fee. A memo outlining your Clinical Component exam fee options will be included within your Written Component results package.

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